Refrigerator pan organizer

ABSTRACT

An organizer for a refrigeration appliance storage pan is provided. The organizer includes a base having opposite first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and an upstanding wall received in at least one of said openings and dividing one of said first and second surfaces into separate areas.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to drawer organizers, and, more specifically, to an organizer for a slide-out refrigerator storage drawer or pan.

[0002] Known refrigerators include a cabinet housing including an outer case and one or more inner liners therein that defines a fresh food compartment and a freezer compartment. The fresh food compartment and freezer compartments are closed by separate access doors hingedly attached to the case. A number of storage shelves, baskets, and drawers are employed in the fresh food compartment to organize food. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,997. One such food storage feature is commonly known as a crisper drawer that is intended to store fruits and vegetables therein and maintain freshness while avoiding spoilage. Conventional crisper drawers are, however, disadvantaged in several respects.

[0003] For example, most crisper drawers are relatively large and cumbersome to clean, and typically must be removed from the refrigerator to clean them effectively. Further, due to elevated humidity levels in the crisper drawer, fruit and vegetables contacting the bottom of a pan tend to deteriorate and rot quickly, thereby accelerating bacteria and mold growth in the drawer. In addition, a variety of items are often placed in the drawer at the same time, and larger, heavier items, such as pineapples, may damage smaller, lighter items, such as peaches. Each of the foregoing issues tends to increase as the quantity of fruit and vegetables in the drawer increases.

[0004] While a crisper drawer liner has been employed to address at least some of these issues, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,580 B1, it does so with limited success, and a more effective solution is desired.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0005] In one aspect, an organizer for a refrigeration appliance storage pan is provided. The organizer comprises a base comprising opposite first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending therethrough, and an upstanding wall received in at least one of said openings and dividing one of said first and second surfaces into separate areas.

[0006] In another aspect, a storage pan assembly for a refrigeration appliance is provided. The pan assembly comprises a pan comprising a bottom wall and an organizer comprising a removable base supported on said bottom wall and comprising first and second opposing side surfaces and a plurality of openings through said first side surface. A dividing wall is coupled to said base first surface and the wall is selectively positionable relative to said openings.

[0007] In still another aspect, a refrigerator storage pan assembly is provided. The assembly comprises a pan comprising a bottom wall and first and second side walls extending therefrom, and an organizer within said pan. The organizer comprises a removable base supported on said bottom wall between said lateral sides of said pan. The base comprises a support surface elevated above said pan bottom wall and a plurality of elongated openings therethrough. A dividing wall is partially inserted into at least one of said elongated openings and divides said support surface into separate areas between said pan side walls.

[0008] In yet another aspect, a refrigeration appliance is provided that comprises a cabinet comprising a liner and at least one storage pan positioned within said liner. The storage pan comprises a bottom wall, and a base supported on said bottom wall and comprising a surface in spaced apart relationship to said bottom wall. A wall is selectively engageable to said first surface so as to adjust relative positions of said wall and said base.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary refrigerator.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pan organizer for the refrigerator shown in FIG. 1.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional exploded view of the organizer shown in FIG. 2.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of a portion of the organizer shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the organizer shown in FIGS. 2-4 in a refrigerator pan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0014]FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary refrigeration appliance 100 in which the present invention may be practiced. In the embodiment described and illustrated herein, appliance 100 is a side-by-side refrigerator. It is recognized, however, that the benefits of the present invention are equally applicable to other types of refrigerators, freezers, and refrigeration appliances. Consequently, the description set forth herein is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to limit the invention in any aspect.

[0015] Refrigerator 100 includes a fresh food storage compartment 102 and a freezer storage compartment 104. Freezer compartment 104 and fresh food compartment 102 are arranged side-by-side within an outer case 106 and defined by inner liners 108 and 110 therein. A space between case 106 and liners 108 and 110, and between liners 108 and 110, is filled with foamed-in-place insulation. Outer case 106 normally is formed by folding a sheet of a suitable material, such as pre-painted steel, into an inverted U-shape to form top and side walls of case. A bottom wall of case 106 normally is formed separately and attached to the case side walls and to a bottom frame that provides support for refrigerator 100. Inner liners 108 and 110 are molded from a suitable plastic material to form freezer compartment 104 and fresh food compartment 102, respectively. Alternatively, liners 108, 110 may be formed by bending and welding a sheet of a suitable metal, such as steel. The illustrative embodiment includes two separate liners 108, 110 as it is a relatively large capacity unit and separate liners add strength and are easier to maintain within manufacturing tolerances. In smaller refrigerators, a single liner is formed and a mullion spans between opposite sides of the liner to divide it into a freezer compartment and a fresh food compartment.

[0016] A breaker strip 112 extends between a case front flange and outer front edges of liners 108, 110. Breaker strip 112 is formed from a suitable resilient material, such as an extruded acrylo-butadiene-styrene based material (commonly referred to as ABS).

[0017] The insulation in the space between liners 108, 110 is covered by another strip of suitable resilient material, which also commonly is referred to as a mullion 114. Mullion 114 also preferably is formed of an extruded ABS material. Breaker strip 112 and mullion 114 form a front face, and extend completely around inner peripheral edges of case 106 and vertically between liners 108, 110. Mullion 114, insulation between compartments, and a spaced wall of liners separating compartments, sometimes are collectively referred to herein as a center mullion wall 116.

[0018] Shelves 118 and slide-out storage drawers 120, sometimes referred to as storage pans, normally are provided in fresh food compartment 102 to support items being stored therein. A bottom drawer or pan 122 is commonly referred to as a crisper drawer and is intended for storage of fruit and vegetables. It is understood, however, that the present invention may be employed in any of storage pans 120 in addition to, or in lieu of, pan 122.

[0019] Refrigerator 100 is controlled by a microprocessor (not shown in FIG. 1) according to user preference via manipulation of a control interface 124 mounted in an upper region of fresh food storage compartment 102 and coupled to the microprocessor. A shelf 126 and wire baskets 128 are also provided in freezer compartment 104. In addition, an ice maker 130 may be provided in freezer compartment 104.

[0020] A freezer door 132 and a fresh food door 134 close access openings to fresh food and freezer compartments 102, 104, respectively. Each door 132, 134 is mounted by a top hinge 136 and a bottom hinge (not shown) to rotate about its outer vertical edge between an open position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a closed position (not shown) closing the associated storage compartment. Freezer door 132 includes a plurality of storage shelves 138 and a sealing gasket 140, and fresh food door 134 also includes a plurality of storage shelves 142 and a sealing gasket 144.

[0021] In accordance with known refrigerators, refrigerator 100 also includes a machinery compartment (not shown) that at least partially contains components for executing a known vapor compression cycle for cooling air. The components include a compressor (not shown), a condenser (not shown), an expansion device (not shown), and an evaporator (not shown ) connected in series and charged with a refrigerant. The evaporator is a type of heat exchanger which transfers heat from air passing over the evaporator to a refrigerant flowing through the evaporator, thereby causing the refrigerant to vaporize. The cooled air is used to refrigerate one or more refrigerator or freezer compartments via fans (not shown in FIG. 1). Collectively, the vapor compression cycle components in a refrigeration circuit, associated fans, and associated compartments are referred to herein as a sealed system. The construction of the sealed system is well known and therefore not described in detail herein, and the sealed system is operable to force cold air through the refrigerator.

[0022]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a pan organizer 150 for use in storage pan 122 (shown in FIG. 1). As is explained more fully below, storage pan organizer 150 facilitates preservation of fruits and vegetables, for example, within pan 122 while facilitating clean up and maintenance of pan 122.

[0023] Organizer 150 includes a base 152 and an upstanding partition wall 154 attached thereto. Base 150 in one embodiment is a generally flat plate having a substantially rectangular configuration and opposite top and bottom surfaces 156, 158. A plurality of extended slots or openings 160 extend through base 152 from top surface 156 to bottom surface 158 both to facilitate drainage of water and juice from items, such as fruits and vegetables, stored on or above base top surface 156 and to selectively position wall 154 relative to base 152, as further described below. In an illustrative embodiment, slot openings 160 extend substantially parallel to one another and are approximately equally spaced from adjacent slot openings 160. Base 152 further includes a generally rectangular outer periphery 162 including opposite front and back sides 164, 166 extending substantially parallel to one another, and opposite lateral sides 168, 170 extending between front and back sides 164, 166. Lateral sides 168, 170 each include inwardly curved handle portions 172, 174 that are recessed from base lateral sides 168, 170 so that base 152 may be easily installed and removed from storage pan 122 by gripping handle portions 172, 174.

[0024] In an illustrative embodiment, raised ribs 176, 178 extend adjacent and substantially parallel to front and back sides 164, 166, and wall 154 extends between front and back ribs 176, 178. Base top surface 156 and bottom surface 158 are each substantially flat such that base bottom surface 158 rests upon and is supported by a bottom floor or bottom surface of a storage pan, and further such that base top surface 156 extends above and substantially parallel to base bottom surface 158. It is contemplated, however, that in alternative embodiments, base top surface 156 and/or bottom surface 158 may include some curvature to facilitate drainage of moisture through base openings 160.

[0025] Wall 154 is attached to base 152 and extends upward from base top surface 156 in a substantially perpendicular orientation relative to base top surface 152 such that when base 152 is situated horizontally in a storage drawer or pan, wall 154 forms an upstanding divider that partitions base top surface 156 into separate areas. In an illustrative embodiment, wall includes a relatively thick base portion 176 that is coupled to base 152 and a thinner divider portion 178 extending upwardly from wall base portion 176. A rounded top wall portion 180 extends above wall divider portion 178 between opposite ends of divider portion 178 and includes a cutout through which a rounded handle 184 extends. By gripping wall handle 184, wall 154 may inserted into and removed from base 152 in a variety of positions to change or adjust an area of base top surface 156 that extends on either side of wall 154.

[0026] In one embodiment, organizer base 152 and wall 154 are each fabricated from known materials, such as plastic for example, that are suitable for a refrigeration environment. Organizer base 152 and wall 154 are each formed according to known methods and techniques, including but not limited to injection molding techniques and a variety of fabrication processes known in the art without departing from the scope of the instant claims.

[0027]FIG. 3 is a cross sectional exploded view of organizer 150 illustrating organizer wall 154 including an outwardly flared base portion 176 depending downwardly from wall divider portion 178. A pair of extensions 190 depend from an inner surface 192 of wall base portion 176 and extend generally parallel to and equidistant from a longitudinal axis 194 of wall 154. Wall extensions 190 extend a distance below wall bottom surface 196 such that when wall bottom surface 196 contacts organizer base top surface 156, extensions penetrate base top surface 156 through base slot openings 160 such that wall extensions 190 are received within adjacent slot openings 160 through base top surface 156. In an illustrative embodiment, wall extensions 190 are dimensioned slightly larger than openings 160 so as to create an interference fit between wall 154 and base 152.

[0028] As should now be apparent, wall 154 may be engaged to any two adjacent slot openings 160 to provide an appropriate area on base top surface 156 on either side of wall 154. Because the illustrated embodiment includes eight slot openings 160 extending though base 152, wall 154 is positionable in seven different positions between adjacent openings 160 on base 154 by engaging wall base extensions 190 into a selected pair of adjacent base slot openings 160. It is recognized that greater or fewer numbers of slot openings 160 may be employed to further refine or restrict positioning of wall 154 relative to base 152.

[0029]FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of organizer wall 154 illustrating extensions 190 protruding beneath wall bottom surface 196 and beyond wall base portion 176. As illustrated in FIG. 5, extensions 190 are cylindrically shaped pegs sized and dimensioned for press-fit insertion into base 152 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). It is contemplated however, that extensions 1 90 may include rectangular, square, or other polygonal shapes, in addition to other curved shapes or combinations of curved and polygonal shapes to engage base openings 160 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3) with a secure interference fit. It is likewise appreciated that base openings 160 may likewise be modified to engage differently configured wall extensions 190 projecting beneath wall base bottom surface 196.

[0030] In addition, while in an illustrative embodiment, wall 154 includes four extensions 190 situated in pairs adjacent either end of wall 154 to secure wall 154 to base 152 at both ends thereof, greater or fewer numbers of extensions 190 may be employed in alternative embodiments. For example, one extension 190 may depend from wall 154 at each end thereof rather than the two extensions illustrated at each end of wall 154 depicted in FIG. 4, and each extension 190 in such an embodiment may engage the same or different slot opening 160 in base 152 (shown in FIGS. 2 and 3). Moreover, additional extensions may be employed between the illustrated extensions 190 to further secure organizer wall 154 to base 152.

[0031]FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of organizer 150 situated within a refrigerator storage pan 200 which in different embodiments, may be one of pans 120 (shown in FIG. 1) or pan 122 (also shown in FIG. 1).

[0032] Pan 200 includes a bottom 202, opposing lateral sides 204, 206 extending from bottom 202, and front and back sides 208, 210 that define an open sided box-like container. Organizer 150 is contained within pan 200, i.e., between lateral sides 204, 206 and front and back sides 208, 210, and organizer base 152 is resting upon and supported by pan bottom 202. Organizer wall 154 is coupled to base 152 and effectively divides storage pan 154 into two separate areas above base 152.

[0033] Thus, for example, organizer wall 154 may be used to partition pan 200 into two different storage spaces for fruit and vegetable storage above organizer base top surface 156. Large heavy items, for example, may therefore be placed on one side of organizer wall 154 while smaller, more delicate items may be placed on the other side of organizer wall 154. For example, a pineapple may be placed on one side of organizer wall 154 and peaches may be placed on the other side of organizer wall 154 while substantially eliminating the large and course pineapple from contacting the lighter and more delicate peaches and damaging them within pan 200. Also, organizer wall may be positioned in various places relative to organizer base 152 so that more peaches or more pineapples, as may be desired, may be accommodated in storage pan 200. These principles may be extended to a large variety of fruits and vegetables, and by properly positioning organizer wall 154 relative to base 152 and with strategic loading of fruits and vegetables into pan 200 after organizer wall 154 is appropriately positioned, pan 200 may be optimally loaded with selected fruits and vegetables.

[0034] It is contemplated that the benefits of pan organizer 150 may extend beyond fruits and vegetables, and that organizer wall 154 may be employed to optimally store packaged food and food containers of various sizes within pan 200. Still further, it is contemplated that more than one wall 154 could be employed with base 152 to further subdivide pan 200 into separate storage areas for different items.

[0035] Items are located within pan 200 above pan bottom 202 on organizer base top surface 156, and base openings 160 allow for drainage of moisture from fruits, vegetables and items stored in pan 200 above organizer base top surface 156. Thus, unlike conventional food storage drawers, food items are isolated from pools of moisture and juices that may accelerate storage of food items in pan 200. In addition, for cleaning purposes, organizer 250 is easily removable from pan 200 by gripping base handle portions 172, 174 adjacent pan lateral sides 204, 206. Most sediment is retained on base top surface 156 which may be relatively easily cleaned once removed from pan 200. Pan bottom 202 may then be wiped clean and organizer 150 replaced for use, thereby facilitating relatively easy cleaning of pan 200 without conventional removal of pan 200 from a refrigeration appliance, such as refrigerator 100 (shown in FIG. 1).

[0036] While the invention has been described in terms of various specific embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the claims. 

1. An organizer for a refrigeration appliance storage pan, said organizer comprising: a base comprising opposite first and second surfaces and a plurality of openings extending therethrough; and an upstanding wall received in at least one of said openings and dividing one of said first and second surfaces into separate areas.
 2. An organizer in accordance with claim 1, said wall engaging at least two of said openings.
 3. An organizer in accordance with claim 2, said openings comprising a plurality of slots extending substantially equidistant from one another, said wall comprising at least two extensions for engagement with adjacent slots in said base.
 4. An organizer in accordance with claim 3, said wall comprising first and second lateral sides, and a pair of said extensions extending adjacent each of said first and said second lateral sides.
 5. An organizer in accordance with claim 1, said wall comprising a top end and a bottom end, said bottom end thicker than said top end.
 6. An organizer in accordance with claim 1, said base comprising an outer periphery, and at least one recessed handle formed into said outer periphery.
 7. A storage pan assembly for a refrigeration appliance, said pan assembly comprising: a pan comprising a bottom wall; and an organizer comprising: a removable base supported on said bottom wall and comprising first and second opposing side surfaces and a plurality of openings through said first side surface; and a dividing wall coupled to said base first surface and selectively positionable relative to said openings.
 8. A storage pan assembly in accordance with claim 7, said wall comprising a bottom end and at least one extension depending therefrom, said extension engaged to one of said openings.
 9. A storage pan assembly in accordance with claim 8, said bottom end comprising a first extension and a second extension, said first extension engaged to one of said slots in said base, and second extension engaged to another of said slots in said base.
 10. A storage pan assembly in accordance with claim 7 wherein said base comprises an outer periphery, said outer periphery comprising at least one recessed handle portion.
 11. A storage pan in accordance with claim 7 wherein said openings comprise elongated slots extending substantially parallel to said wall.
 12. A refrigerator storage pan assembly comprising: a pan comprising a bottom wall and first and second side walls extending therefrom; and an organizer within said pan, said organizer comprising: a removable base supported on said bottom wall between said lateral sides of said pan, said base comprising a support surface elevated above said pan bottom wall and a plurality of elongated openings therethrough; and a dividing wall partially inserted into at least one of said elongated openings and dividing said support surface into separate areas between said pan side walls.
 13. A refrigerator storage pan assembly in accordance with claim 12, said base comprising at least one recessed handle portion adjacent one of said pan side walls.
 14. A refrigerator storage pan assembly in accordance with claim 12, said base openings comprising a plurality of extended slots extending substantially parallel to said pan side walls.
 15. A refrigerator storage pan assembly in accordance with claim 14 wherein said slots are substantially equally spaced from one another.
 16. A refrigerator storage pan assembly in accordance with claim 12, said dividing wall configured for selective attachment to said openings such that a position of said wall relative to said pan side walls is adjustable.
 17. A refrigeration appliance comprising: a cabinet comprising a liner; and at least one storage pan positioned within said liner, said storage pan comprising: a bottom wall; a base supported on said bottom wall and comprising a surface in spaced apart relationship to said bottom wall; and a wall selectively engageable to said first surface so as to adjust relative positions of said wall and said base.
 18. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 17, said base comprising a recessed handle portion for removing said base from said pan.
 19. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 17, said base further comprising a plurality of extended openings therethrough for attachment of said base.
 20. A refrigeration appliance in accordance with claim 19, said wall comprising at least one extension depending therefrom for insertion into one of said slots. 